Planning application - object on noise grounds?

pimento

Our next door neighbour is a Fire Station manned by retained fire fighters (not there, just attend when called). We have lived here for ten years and by and large they are no trouble.

I've received a letter from the Planning Department for an application that has been made by the county fire and rescue service and they want to build a "Road Traffic Collision Training Compound" and a "Working at heights Training Tower to include a 6.5m tower with screen".

The compound bit will be immediately adjacent to my garden hedge butting right up to my 8' high hawthorn hedge. It comprises a 2m high metal fence, a lamp post (that won't be lit), a section of dual carriageway divider and a ditch a metre deep for putting cars in as if they're crashed into a ditch.

They are planning to use this compound for cutting up cars to practice getting imaginary people out of cars in road accident scenarios, something that they already do on their evening training sessions, but now they want the option to use if in three hour bursts between the hours on 9am and 9pm seven days a week.

On our side of the hedge by where this compound is planned is our greenhouse and then our patio (at the other end of the garden because our garden is north facing) so this proposed compound will really impact us as the noise of the cutting equipment is very, very loud. Also, due to the location of our greenhouse, we won't be able to trim the hedge any more as it's wide enough to need trimming from both sides.

The fire station is is a village and surrounded on all sides by residential housing.

OK, now to my question. Can I object on noise grounds? I don't think we'll be able to see the compound (except from our bedroom windows) but we will definitely be able to hear it, 9am - 9pm, seven days a week.

If I can object on these grounds, what's the best approach?

Thanks

sonastin

Will they actually be using it 7 days a week or are they asking for PP to lift the time restrictions on when the sessions can be done so they can hold training on any day but still at intermittent intervals?

Personally, I would prefer the local fire brigade to be capable of cutting me out of a vehicle if I were ever in an accident but I can understand your feelings if it is going to be relentless noise. However, my gut instinct also suggests that they wouldn't necessarily carry out the training all that often although I'm happy to stand corrected on that.

With regards to the hedge issue, have you got a right of access to trim the hedge from their side (perhaps created by regular use)? If not, I don't think you would be able to present a valid objection on that basis although that doesn't prevent the noise issue being an option if it is going to be sustained.

pimento

The planning application says that they will not only be training the firemen, but also "young drivers". I suspect that as soon as the facility is there, all the other local stations will want to use it too.
I appreciate they need training and they already train two evenings a week (6pm - 10pm), in fact, they're out there now, but by formalising the arrangement I'm worried it will mean we won't be able to use our patio at weekends if they are using the compound. I'm out five days a week from 6am - 6pm but my husband works from home and it will impact him greatly. He's a writer.

The hedge has been cut by my husband since we moved in and he has informal access the whole length of the hedge (approx 130') with permission of the Chief Fireman (who is a very nice chap). They never cut their side, so my husband is often over there trimming. If left, it would go wild.

Mrs_Imp

Why not contact the fire department and ask them how often they think they'll be using the compound. They might say 'once a week' or 'once a day'. At least then you'll have a better idea about what you'll be facing and what you might be able to complain against.

Oxid8uk

pimento wrote: »

OK, now to my question. Can I object on noise grounds? I don't think we'll be able to see the compound (except from our bedroom windows) but we will definitely be able to hear it, 9am - 9pm, seven days a week.

If I can object on these grounds, what's the best approach?

Yes you can object on noise grounds. You will need to make the objection in writing, stating the reasons why you object.

The Environmental Health department is likely to be consulted about the proposals and may have requested a noise assessment to be undertaken. Depending on the outcome of the assessment the EH department may then ask that conditions are placed which restrict the operational times.

Clearlier

Just to confirm that an objection can be raised on noise issues. My sons nursery is not allowed to have children outside for more than 2 hours per day. They applied to extend this and it was turned down.

phill99

Just because they say 9am - 9pm, they won't be out their for 84 hours a week. It just gives them the option of doing training in different light and weather conditions - these can have an impact on getting you out of your car when its been hit by a skip lorry.

And by your own admission, they will only do it in 3 hour bursts, so you won't get 12 hour constant.

I think I'd be happy to live next door to this facility. People always expect to be cut out of their cars and their houses saved when the chip pan catches alight, but people don't want the inconvenience of a bit of noise so that fire fighters are trained effectively.

sonastin

It doesn't sound like it will be a full noise assault at every training session either - I don't think "young drivers" are likely to be let loose on cutting gear.

ChrisLUFC

Clearlier wrote: »

Just to confirm that an objection can be raised on noise issues. My sons nursery is not allowed to have children outside for more than 2 hours per day. They applied to extend this and it was turned down.

That is the saddest thing i've heard all day. Nursery's are only open in work hours, and forcing the kids to be shut up inside for 6 hours a day becuase of "noise" pollution is quite shocking...

Sorry for hijacking.

pimento

phill99 wrote: »

Just because they say 9am - 9pm, they won't be out their for 84 hours a week. It just gives them the option of doing training in different light and weather conditions - these can have an impact on getting you out of your car when its been hit by a skip lorry.

And by your own admission, they will only do it in 3 hour bursts, so you won't get 12 hour constant.

I think I'd be happy to live next door to this facility. People always expect to be cut out of their cars and their houses saved when the chip pan catches alight, but people don't want the inconvenience of a bit of noise so that fire fighters are trained effectively.

Come on Phill.

I've been happy to live next door to this facility for 10 years. Safe in the knowledge that if my house caught fire, they're right next door. What I'm objecting to is the possibility of them turning the cutters on on Saturdays and Sundays which is when we use our garden.
What I haven't said is that not only do the cutters go, but the generator to run them and usually a fire engine's diesel engine running right next to the hedge too.

Weekdays and weekday evenings? Fine.

Weekends? Cut me some slack.

We have a brand new, main fire station three miles away just built on the edge of town on an industrial estate. In my opinion, this type of training could be done much better there than in the middle of a residential area.

pimento

sonastin wrote: »

It doesn't sound like it will be a full noise assault at every training session either - I don't think "young drivers" are likely to be let loose on cutting gear.

Maybe not, but they will be demonstrating so it doesn't matter who is wielding the cutters, they still make a noise.

They don't warn us in advance either.

These cutters are LOUD. You can't speak and be heard when they're on. It's just not suitable for the very quiet residential location.

I hate to be all NIMBY about it, we rub along quite nicely with them normally, but having the possibility of the equivalent of a RTA next to your house at random times seven days a week would make most people annoyed.